Ancient Double Diamond Eye-In-Eye Carnelian Dzi, 21.9×15.1×8.6mm, terracotta-orange, bloodspots (Ac-030623-DDIE)

We never retouch our photos. What you see is exactly what you will receive.

This bead has six faces, and no two of them carry the same composition.

Every face of this ancient carnelian dzi presents a different element of a motif vocabulary that predates the standard circular eye. At 21.9mm × 15.1mm × 8.6mm, the bead is not the elongated barrel that dominates dzi collecting. It is a wide, flat, multi-faceted form, angular edges meeting flat face panels in a near-hexagonal profile unlike any other piece in this collection. The ground throughout is a warm terracotta-orange natural carnelian, consistent and warm across all faces.

The two main angular faces carry the Double Diamond Eye-in-Eye motif. Image 2 shows the fuller presentation: three diamond frames nested inside each other, an outer diamond, a middle ring and a small diamond at the centre, all in warm cream-white against the terracotta ground. Wave lines run across the top and bottom of this face. The diamond eye is regarded as the precursor to the circular eye, an earlier, more angular rendering of the same protective eye, and this bead carries it in one of its most complete multi-ring forms. The second angular face (Image 4) shows a variant with two diamond frames and a darker interior, with a natural fissure running through the carnelian.

The two broad rectangular faces carry the Star, Tiger Tooth and Wave combination. Image 3 shows a central small circular dot, the star, flanked on each side by V-form and multi-tine chevrons reading as tiger tooth, with the same wave border top and bottom. Image 5 shows the opposite face in the same format, with natural variation in line weight from hand-etching. Images 6 and 7 show the ends: irregular and rounded, with a small drill hole and warm brown-red to russet natural cinnabar (硃砂, zhūshā) inclusions visible in the carnelian.

The Diamond Eye-in-Eye, Wave, Tiger Tooth and Star Motifs

The diamond eye (鑽石眼) is the archaic precursor to the circular eye in dzi tradition, the same protective all-seeing eye in an earlier geometric form. Eye-in-eye compositions, with concentric frames creating a nested focus, are understood to deepen the protective and visionary qualities of the eye, the gaze going deeper layer by layer. The wave (波) adds continuous success and flowing life force; the tiger tooth (虎牙) adds strength and courage; the star (星) adds wisdom and a bright future. Together on one bead, these motifs make one of the most layered compositions in the dzi tradition. Read more in Carnelian Dzi Beads: The Pema Raka Guide.

Specifications

• Motif: Double Diamond Eye-in-Eye on the angular faces; Star, Tiger Tooth and Wave on the rectangular faces; wave border on all faces
• Length: 21.9mm
• Width: 15.1mm
• Depth: 8.6mm
• Form: Multi-faceted angular form; flat face panels; near-hexagonal profile
• Material: Natural carnelian; warm terracotta-orange ground; warm cream-white motif lines
• Age estimate: Ancient, 500–1,000 years
• Condition: Natural fissure visible on one angular face (Image 4), disclosed; no structural compromise
• Bloodspots: Yes; warm brown-red to russet natural cinnabar inclusions at the ends (Images 6 and 7)
• Product ID: Ac-030623-DDIE
• Collections: Original Ancient Dzi | Carnelian Dzi (Pema Raka) | Bloodspot Dzi

Related Diamond Eye and Multi-Motif Dzi

• Ancient Three Diamond Eye and Tiger Tooth Dzi, 2,000+ years
• Antique Three Diamond Eye and Tiger Tooth Dzi with Bloodspots
• Antique Three Diamond Eye Dzi, 57.5mm
• Antique Diamond Spear Dzi with Bloodspots
• Antique Eye-in-Eye, Heaven Gate, Tiger Tooth and Star Dzi
• Three Diamond Eye and Tiger Tooth Carnelian Dzi, terracotta-red

From the blog

• Carnelian Dzi Beads: The Pema Raka Guide
• Where Do Dzi Beads Come From?
• Dzi Motifs and Their Interpretations

Six faces, four motifs, one ancient carnelian bead carrying 500–1,000 years of dzi tradition in a form no standard barrel could hold.

📷 We never retouch our photos. Every bead is photographed exactly as it is. What you see is what you receive.